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A VOICE FOR THE COAST: New Destinite quick to represent
Meggin McPhee has only lived in Destin for a few months, but last week she represented the community as well as any lifelong resident.
As the marketing, catering and event director at The Shed BBQ and Blues Joint, McPhee moved to the Destin area to help open and operate the newest location for the restaurant chain that has expanded from its original location in Ocean Springs, Miss.
Months before the demise of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig, McPhee and the rest of The Shed’s administration were sure they had a winning combination between their new restaurant and the Destin community. Unfortunately, their first day of business was also a day that will remain unforgettable for years to come – April 20.
PHOTOS
To see Tuesday's photos from the Associated Press, click here.
Since that day, many Destin businesses have seen monetary fallout, and new establishments have seen numbers lower than they expected.
“I went to Washington as a community member who loves Destin,” said McPhee. “I have seen [the oil] decimate the fishing industry and it’s heartbreaking.”
McPhee was asked by Repower America, which has the goal of reaching 100 percent clean electricity and revitalizing the national energy infrastructure, to travel to Washington to share her story, of how the Gulf oil spill has affected her life.
“We asked the senators to take massive action to ensure that something like this will never happen again,” said McPhee. “We asked them to move forward with clean energy initiatives.”
“I found that they were positive and supportive,” McPhee continued. “They were in support of the energies that are required to clean up the Gulf Coast. But we need action, not a voice in agreement … I was encouraged by the number of senators who sat down with us face-to-face.”
Launched in 2008 in a speech by Al Gore, Repower America “stands for the importance of investing in energy efficiency; clean, renewable and diversified energy sources; a unified national smart energy grid that connects these renewable energy sources to every part of the country; and clean car technology.”
“I want to see support for the clean up efforts of our community,” said McPhee. “We need to make sure the United States moves forward with this.”
